Read 2 Kings 21.
Just because the father is a godly man and pleases the LORD does not guarantee that his children will be. Even with the best upbringing each person must come to faith in God as an individual. We see that graphically played out here. Hezekiah was the best king of Judah, while his son Manasseh was the worst.
Manasseh's evil amounts to a long list of paganism and satanically inspired behaviors meant to destroy the nation's faith in the LORD. In verse 2, the scripture calls them "despicable practices".
-worshiped in the high places, instead of the Temple in Jerusalem
-erected altars to Baal for sacrifices to appease this made up god
-made an Asherah, a carved pole to worship a cult goddess, and set it up in the Temple
-worshiped and served the "host of heaven"-literally a multitude in the heavens. Often this refers to angelic beings, but this was astral worship of the stars and their movements as if they had some magical power or control over life. Today, this is called astrology.
-he built altars for sacrifice to the "host of heaven" right in the Temple courts
-he sacrificed his own son in an altar fire
-he used fortune-telling
-he depended on omens
-he dealt with mediums
-he turned to wizards
-shed innocent blood throughout Jerusalem
The next king, Amon, Manasseh's son, continued all these sinful practices.
These things are not forms of harmless entertainment or fanciful practices to be tolerated. Repeatedly they are called "evil" and stirred the anger of the LORD. God affirmed the prophecy of Isaiah, spoken in chapter 20, that He will bring "disaster" upon Judah and Jerusalem to cleanse the nation spiritually. He described it as one who washes out a dish and turns it upside down to dry over time.
This is an unmistakable warning to anyone involved in these false attempts at spiritualism. Disaster will come. It is also a clear call to turn to the true and living God, Maker of heaven and earth, who invites us to have a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus.
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